Protecting America’s Workers Act
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
The Protecting America’s Workers Act expands OSHA’s coverage to include public employees, authorized employee representatives, and voluntary emergency responders. It strengthens whistleblower protections by increasing penalties for retaliation and establishing a clear process for contesting citations. The bill also aims to improve OSHA’s enforcement efforts through increased penalties, updated recordkeeping rules, and a streamlined process for investigating fatalities and significant incidents. Finally, it clarifies the relationship between OSHA and federal agencies regarding safety standards.
Key provisions
- Expands OSHA coverage to include public employees, authorized employee representatives, and voluntary emergency responders.
- Increases penalties for retaliation against employees who report safety concerns.
- Establishes a process for employees to contest OSHA citations and penalties.
- Updates OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations to clarify the duty to maintain accurate records.
- Provides a streamlined process for investigating fatalities and significant incidents.
- Clarifies the relationship between OSHA and federal agencies regarding safety standards, allowing OSHA to cede jurisdiction to federal agencies in certain cases.
- Increases civil and criminal penalties for OSHA violations.
- Requires employers to post employee rights information.
Who is affected
- Public Employees
- Employees
Bill text
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Sponsors
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16 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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